Contumacious

Pronunciation

• Hyphenation: con + tu + ma + cious
• RP IPA: /ËŒkÉ’n.tjʊˈmeɪ.ʃəs/
• US IPA: /ËŒkɑːn.tʊˈmeɪ.ʃəs/, /ËŒkɑːn.tjəˈmeɪ.ʃəs/
• Rhymes: -eɪʃəs

Origin

From Latin contumāx ("stubborn, obstinate")

Full definition of contumacious

Adjective

1. Contemptuous of authority; willfully disobedient; rebellious.
• 1671, John Milton, “Samson Agonistes” in The Poetical Works of John Milton, volume 4 (edited by Henry John Todd; published in 1801), page 505:The queen hears of it; takes occaÅ¿ion to paÅ¿Å¿e wher he is, on purpoÅ¿e, that, under prætense of reconÅ¿iling to him, or Å¿eeking to draw a kind retractation from him of the cenÅ¿ure on the marriage; to which end Å¿he Å¿ends a courtier before, to Å¿ound whether he might be perÅ¿uaded to mitigate his Å¿entence; which not finding, Å¿he herÅ¿elf craftily aÅ¿Å¿ays; and, on his conÅ¿tancie, Å¿ounds an accuÅ¿ation to Herod of a contumacious affront, on Å¿uch a day, before many peers; præpares the king to Å¿ome paÅ¿Å¿ion, and at laÅ¿t, by her daughter’s dancing, effects it.
• 1837, Thomas Carlyle, The French Revolution, Book 2.V:In all places too are Dissident Priests; whom the Legislative will have to deal with: contumacious individuals, working on that angriest of passions; plotting, enlisting.
2. (legal) Willfully disobedient to the summons or orders of a court.

Synonyms

• (contemptuous of authority) disobedient, insubordinate, obstinate, perverse, rebellious, stubborn

Related terms

• contumaciously
• contumaciousness
• contumacy
• contumely